Clamp



A May 24, 1949. Q s', CARD 2,471,305

CLAMP Filed April 5, 194e |NVENTOR C'ARLES J1 CARD ATTORNEY Patented May 24, 1949 CLAMP Charles S. Card, Cortland, N. Y., assignor to The Brewer-Titchener Corporation, Cortland, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 5, 1946, Serial No. 659,835

This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved clamp and particularly a strain clamp of the snubbing type for use with cables, conductors or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp of this character having a body portion made in one piece which may be stamped from sheet or strip metal.

A further object is the provision of a snubhing type strain clamp which eliminates the necessity of a separate keeper or other piece for gripping the cable and in which the cable is gripped between two integral parts of the body of the clamp.

Other objects are the provision of an improved clamp which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is efficient in operation and will retain the cable against accidental slippage .or displacement, and which is rugged and strong and will give satisfactory service over a relatively long period of time. i

Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description of the drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a clamp embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 2 2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 3--3 of Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a blank .from which the body of the clamp is made,

Figs. 5 and 6 show successive steps in the manufacture of the clamp from the blank, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional View in the direction of the arrows on the line '1 -'I of Fig. 6.

My improved clamp comprises an elongated, generally loop shaped body portion indicated at l0 which is made of one piece and which may be stamped from sheet or strip metal as will be later explained.

The body portion is provided with a curved channel-shaped snubbing seat H which extends substantially completely around the body portion and is provided with a taut cable end and a slack cable end. The initial portion or taut cable end of the snubbing seat shown at the right-hand portion as viewed in Fig. l has a somewhat larger radius and the radius becomes progressively smaller through the intermediate portion. The nal portion thereof is substantially straight as shown. The taut cable end of the snubbing seat bells inwardly when the clamp is supported in its normal manner so that the cable does not engage the mouth of the snub- 4 Claims. (Cl. 24-135) I vbing seat as shown in Fig. l.

This protects the cable from frictional engagement with the mouth and prevents sharp bending over the edge thereof. The snubbing seat is adapted to accommodate a cable or conductor i2 and exert snubbing action thereon. Therefore, the cross-sectional size of the seat should be such as to accommodate the cable.

The body of the clamp is also provided with an attaching portion consisting of a pair of laterally offset substantially parallel protruding wings i3 having central apertures which accommodate a pin I4 for attaching the clamp to an insulator or other suitable support.

Adjacent the clamp mouth or the taut cable end of the snubbing seat the body portion is provided with a laterally projecting gripping or main clamping plate l5 which cooperates with the overlapping gripping or secondary clamping plate I6 formed integrally with the body portion beyond the slack cable end of the snubbing seat. The plate l5 is preferably provided with an aperture l1 near the forward end thereof to accommodate the hook of the come-along which is generally used in applying the cable or conare preferably provided with grooves I8 and I9 which accommodate and guide the cable and help to retain it in position. Clamping or gripping action is exerted on the plates by suitable fastening means such as the nut and bolt assemblies vindicated at 2U passing through apertures 2| and 22 in the plates.

As previously stated the clamp is made of one piece preferably by stamping from sheet or strip metal. In Figs. 4-7 I have illustrated the prer:ferred method of making the clamp. Thus, in

Fig, 4 I have illustrated a blank 25 which is stamped from sheet metal (preferably steel) so as to provide an elongated central portion of suicient length and -Width to furnish the snubbing seat after it has been radiused and formed in the manner indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. Projecting from the end of the blank is the gripping plate I6 and from opposite sides thereof the two supporting ears I3. On the opposite end of the blank from the gripping plate I6 and projecting laterally from one side thereof is the supporting blade l5. The blank is also pierced to provide the apertures 2l and 22 for accommodating the nuts and bolts 20, the aperture l1 for accommodating the corne-along, and the apertures 23 which receive the attaching pin i4.

Thereafter the blank is radiused and formed in the manner shown in Fig. to provide the snubbing'seat il. The grooves i8 andv I9 are impressed therein, the ears i3 are offset outwardly and plate l5 and the slack end of the seat are bent at an angle.

The final step in the manufacture of the body portion is illustrated .in Fig. 6lin= which. the slack. cable end of the snubbing seat andi theplate- 161 are bent around to the indicated final position with plate I6 resting on top of plate l5: and. thev apertures 2E and 22 in substantial alignment with each other.

The clamp is completedby providing it with the pin.l'.andy the nuts andl bolts 2G. The pants-.may-

be protected. against rust bya suitableli'inishesuch..

asplating, galvanizing or the like. In usingl'the:

clamp it is attachedl to an insulator or'other suitfable support by means of the pin. ld. The tauty side ofthe cable l2 is then wound around: the snubbing seat and between theplates i5;y and 16;.

in the grooves i8 and I9. As the cable is tightened` the nuts and bolts 20 may be in position; but shouldbe loose, so asto permit'theicabletorfreely slidebetween the plates. The cable is pulledtaut: inthe usualjmanner by means ofacome-a1ong,-"

or: block-and-tackle which may befattached to the clamp by a hook'v engaged in theaperturef ll'. Asthe cable'is pulled taut the slack is .takenup atthefree' end thereof which projects beyond the'r gripping plates.

211,-y aretighten-ed with the result that' the cablezis firmly clamped in position.

It should be noted` that thev clamp; exert'snboth ai snubbing and gripping action on the. cable.. Thus, the cable is positionedin the snubbing'seat which extends substantially around the' body of` thev clamp and the slack' end thereof is iirrn'ly` gripped between the plates. I5 and` lliA in the grooves I8 and i9. This double action Without the aid of any separate keeper or other gripping. means serves to hold lthe clamp against accidentali slippage or displacement.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an im'- proved clamp and method for making the same in which the clamp bodyis made in onepiece-and may be stamped from sheet or strip metal. Modifications may be made'in the illustrated embodiment of my invention'without departing from-the invention las set forth in the accompanying.:

claims.

I claim:

1., A clamp comprising a sheet-metal body benty upon itself to provide a main plate, awchanneled.-

cable-receiving element and av secondary plate, saidplates being integral withsaid element and. disposed at opposite ends thereof with. the -sec-V ondary. plate beyond the channel of said element, said element having its channel extendingout wardly and being curved to have saidplates dis,-

When the desired. degree.- off' tautness has been obtained the nuts andl bolts 4 posed in overlapping relationship, said plates being movable with respect to each other incident to a iiexing of said element and means for preventing substantial movements of said plates with respect to each other.

2. A clamp comprising a sheet-metal body bent upon itself to provide a main plate, a channeled cable.-receivinf; element.: and a ,secondary plate, saidfplatesbeing integral with said element and disposed at opposite ends thereof with the secondary plate beyond the channel of said element, said element being disposed to have its channel extend outwardly and being curved so that saidipiatesf are. overlapped and extend in substantially parallel planes, said plates being movable with respect to each other incident t0 a ilex'ingwof, saidrselement and means extending through said plates to draw them towards each other toclamp between their surfaces an interposed cable` 3*.. A.- elamp ;comprising `a-;sl1eetmeta1 body bent upon itselflto.A provide atxmain: plate, a channeled cable-receiving.element'and a secondary plate, said plates being integral with said element and .disposed :fatzoppositezends `thereof-with the secondary plate-beyond@v the', channel of said ele- ,ment;. saidr-element beingi disposed lto have its channel extend outwardly-.andibeing curved so that-.as-aid platesz are; overlapped? and extend in substan-m'aillyft paralleli planes.. said: plates being movabiexwithnrespectz to each: other incident to avflexing ofsaidiI elemenigz; at least one of said plates having -itszf-aceiadjacentthe secondv plate.

formed with a cable-receiving groove andsecuringxmeans extending between saidiplates and to eachssirle." of' saidr; groove for: clamping between 'saidr piatest-an.iinterp'osed` cable.

REFERENCES CITED' kThe yfollowing references areV of.` record in the l'e of'this patenti" ILTNITED?Y STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,422,314 Soule et al. Julyl 11, 1922 1,513,352* Thompson Oct. 28, 1924 1,901,349" Lapp` Mar. 14, 1933 2,031,203- Bovard' Feb. 18, 1936 2,111,505 Card Mar. 15, 1938 2,196,320 f Milne Apr; 9', 1940- 

